Volunteer Opportunities

Volunteer in Romania

Romania Volunteer Work Projects

Tutova Hospital
A unique intercultural partnership began in 1999, when Tutova Hospital in Romania united in service with Global Volunteers in the USA, providing critical assistance to needy children of the Tutova region.

Middle School#5:
Unlike the high school, the middle school is a modest institution with far fewer students and almost no history of working with foreign guests or native English speakers.

Alexandru Ioan Cuza Industrial High School:
This school was originally founded in 1954 as a Vocational School for the Ball Bearings Enterprise of Barlad and used to train skilled workers for three Romanian cities.

Tutova Hospital: Founded in 1910 by King Carol of Romania, Tutova Hospital is a recognized and respected medical facility serving approximately 10,000 rural village. Today, the facility is fondly known as "Dr. Nicolaescu" Hospital in recognition of the remarkable contribution of one doctor, who served the community for nearly 40 years. Teodor Nicolaescu spent his life in Tutova working to develop the hospital, where he worked until his death.

Dr. Nicolaescu established three "clinics" within the hospital: an adult section, a pediatric section and the Failure to Thrive ward, founded in the 70's to treat children between birth and age three who have developmental difficulties.

Dr. Delia Asoltanei (the current director) has led the hospital as the only permanent doctor since 1991. Initially accepting a six-month assignment, she soon became aware of the tremendous needs of the area, and felt she couldn't turn her back on the people of Tutova. In the following years, despite inadequate government funding, she worked tirelessly to keep the hospital open, and secured a long-term partnership with Global Volunteers.

This infusion of funding and volunteer assistance ensures that the children of the Failure to Thrive ward receive all the care they need, and that the hospital can continue to serve the community. Since the partnership began in 1999 additional aides have been hired and a preschool teacher now provides stimulation and educational exercises.

The overwhelming need of the Tutova region is indisputable. Living in one of the most economically impoverished areas of Romania, Tutova's mothers and children struggle to obtain proper nutrition. Consequently, many children are underweight or disabled at birth, and must be treated at the hospital's Failure to Thrive Clinic. While the lucky ones recover quickly, some children languish, and must stay in the ward for up to three years. During this time, parental bonds are strained.

When the families do not visit them for six months or more, the children are declared by the state as "abandoned," and the Child Protection Agency looks to place them in foster families. The process, however, is very lengthy, so children frequently stay in the clinic long after they are medically recovered.

Currently, the hospital cares for 41 children under the age of 4.

Middle School#5: This school is named Elena Bibescu, after the name of a famous Moldavian princesses, remembered for being a great piano player. The school holds about 600 children, grades one through eight, who attend in two shifts, because of a the lack of space in the school.

The children's involvement in school and extra-curricular activities is intense. They can participate in a dance group that performs both modern and folk dances, and they have access to a great art club where they learn to express their feelings and emotions through painting (they have won several national and international contests).

Students can also belong to the sports or chess clubs. The teachers are hard-working and dedicated and even though the school doesn't have the financial means for much needed renovations, the people's and students' effort to do so much with so little is amazing.

Because English is becoming the internatinal language of commerce, it is vital that the students have a good grasp of the language so they can compete in the international job markets. A growing number of high school students have reached a high level of English proficiency since working with Global Volunteers, yet many of those at the middle school have only relatively basic skills. The volunteers' job is to build on those skills so that students can attain a command of the English language that is so vital to their future.

With only 2 formal English teachers on staff the Alexandru Ioan Cuza Industrial High School of Barlad has invited Global Volunteers to assist them. This means that while the Romanian English teachers will provide the students with knowledge of English grammar and literature, it is the volunteers' roles to get the students to actually apply their English to everyday subjects.

Meeting and talking to native speakers is critical for them, as all will have to take a proficiency test at the end of high school, a test that for some will determine their university path.

Moreover, most students recognize that it is difficult to find a good job without a strong command of English. This is an enormous change for a country where talking to a foreigner was considered a crime before 1989, and the local teachers alone cannot handle it.

Romania Volunteer Work Projects Tutova Hospital A unique intercultural partnership began in 1999, when Tutova Hospital in Romania united in service with Global Volunteers in the USA, providing critical assistance to needy children of the Tutova region. Middle School#5: Unlike the high school, the middle school is a modest institution with far fewer students and almost no history of working with foreign guests or native English speakers. Alexandru Ioan Cuza Industrial High School: This school was originally founded in 1954 as a Vocational School for the Ball Bearings Enterprise of Barlad and used to train skilled workers for three Romanian cities.
Tutova Hospital: Founded in 1910 by King Carol of Romania, Tutova Hospital is a recognized and respected medical facility serving approximately 10,000 rural village. Today, the facility is fondly known as "Dr. Nicolaescu" Hospital in recognition of the remarkable contribution of one doctor, who served the community for nearly 40 years. Teodor Nicolaescu spent his life in Tutova working to develop the hospital, where he worked until his death. Dr. Nicolaescu established three "clinics" within the hospital: an adult section, a pediatric section and the Failure to Thrive ward, founded in the 70's to treat children between birth and age three who have developmental difficulties. Dr. Delia Asoltanei (the current director) has led the hospital as the only permanent doctor since 1991. Initially accepting a six-month assignment, she soon became aware of the tremendous needs of the area, and felt she couldn't turn her back on the people of Tutova. In the following years, despite inadequate government funding, she worked tirelessly to keep the hospital open, and secured a long-term partnership with Global Volunteers. This infusion of funding and volunteer assistance ensures that the children of the Failure to Thrive ward receive all the care they need, and that the hospital can continue to serve the community. Since the partnership began in 1999 additional aides have been hired and a preschool teacher now provides stimulation and educational exercises. The overwhelming need of the Tutova region is indisputable. Living in one of the most economically impoverished areas of Romania, Tutova's mothers and children struggle to obtain proper nutrition. Consequently, many children are underweight or disabled at birth, and must be treated at the hospital's Failure to Thrive Clinic. While the lucky ones recover quickly, some children languish, and must stay in the ward for up to three years. During this time, parental bonds are strained. When the families do not visit them for six months or more, the children are declared by the state as "abandoned," and the Child Protection Agency looks to place them in foster families. The process, however, is very lengthy, so children frequently stay in the clinic long after they are medically recovered. Currently, the hospital cares for 41 children under the age of 4. Back to top Middle School#5: This school is named Elena Bibescu, after the name of a famous Moldavian princesses, remembered for being a great piano player. The school holds about 600 children, grades one through eight, who attend in two shifts, because of a the lack of space in the school. The children's involvement in school and extra-curricular activities is intense. They can participate in a dance group that performs both modern and folk dances, and they have access to a great art club where they learn to express their feelings and emotions through painting (they have won several national and international contests). Students can also belong to the sports or chess clubs. The teachers are hard-working and dedicated and even though the school doesn't have the financial means for much needed renovations, the people's and students' effort to do so much with so little is amazing. Because English is becoming the internatinal language of commerce, it is vital that the students have a good grasp of the language so they can compete in the international job markets. A growing number of high school students have reached a high level of English proficiency since working with Global Volunteers, yet many of those at the middle school have only relatively basic skills. The volunteers' job is to build on those skills so that students can attain a command of the English language that is so vital to their future. Back to top Alexandru Ioan Cuza Industrial High School: In 1990 the Alexandru Ioan Cuza Industrial High School officially became a high school and was named after the first ruler of the Romanian United Principalities - Alexandru Ioan Cuza. Today this school teaches more than 2000 students between the ages of 15 and 19 years, with more than 1200 of the students studying English! With only 2 formal English teachers on staff the Alexandru Ioan Cuza Industrial High School of Barlad has invited Global Volunteers to assist them. This means that while the Romanian English teachers will provide the students with knowledge of English grammar and literature, it is the volunteers' roles to get the students to actually apply their English to everyday subjects. Meeting and talking to native speakers is critical for them, as all will have to take a proficiency test at the end of high school, a test that for some will determine their university path. Moreover, most students recognize that it is difficult to find a good job without a strong command of English. This is an enormous change for a country where talking to a foreigner was considered a crime before 1989, and the local teachers alone cannot handle it.